WDBJ 7 morning news for 12/01/03

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Marya]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq Casualties]
[ENG#=1]

November was the deadliest month for coalition forces since the start of the war in Iraq. Over the weekend, two U-S soldiers were killed near the Syrian border. But it seems no one is safe after insurgents staged several attacks on America's allies. Aleen Sirgany reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq]
[SUPER=01-Donald Rumsfeld/US Secretary of Defense]
[SUPER=01-Aleen Sirgany/Reporting;]
[RUNS=1:14]
[OUT Q=CBS news Washington.]
(((Baghdad) IN THE ONGOING OPERATION KNOWN AS "IRON HAMMER"... U-S FORCES SET UP A HUGE ROAD BLOCK IN BAGHDAD LAST NIGHT.... TRAPPING HUNDREDS OF VEHICLES WHILE SOLDIERS SEARCHED FOR WEAPONS..

(nats soldiers)
"The bag, the briefcase and underneath the coat please." :03
THE MILITARY IS TRYING TO PREVENT INSURGENTS FROM PLANTING ROAD SIDE BOMBS AND SETTING UP AMBUSHES.... (map)LIKE THE ONE SUNDAY IN SAMARRA. FROM ROOFTOPS AND ALLEYWAYS GUERILLAS ATTACKED TWO U-S CONVOYS. SOLDIERS FIRED BACK.... KILLING DOZENS OF IRAQI FIGHTERS. NO AMERICANS WERE KILLED IN THE FIGHT BUT NOVEMBER WAS STILL THE BLOODIEST MONTH FOR OCCUPYING FORCES. AND THIS WEEKEND INSURGENTS STEPPED UP THEIR ATTACKS ON SO-CALLED "SOFT TARGETS". TWO JAPANESE DIPLOMATS WERE KILLED WHILE ON A HUMANITARIAN MISSION NEAR TIRKIT. ON THE SAME STRETCH OF ROAD TWO KOREAN ELECTRICAL WORKERS DIED WHEN THEIR VEHICLE WAS AMBUSHED. AND SOUTH OF BAGHDAD SEVEN SPANISH INTELLIGENCE AGENTS WERE KILLED. THE MILITARY SAYS THE ATTACKS ARE AN ATTEMPT TO INTIMIDATE COUNTRY'S WHO ARE HELPING THE U-S EFFORT.

(SOT-Donald Rumsfeld/US Secretary of Defense)
"The countries who have forces there recognize that it's a dangerous place and that there are terrorists who are killing people and wounding people." :09
ALEEN SIRGANY, CBS NEWS, WASHINGTON.))

[Clower]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Clower]
[ENG#=2]

Former Henry County administrator Sid Clower may be released from the prison system today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co./2002;]

Clower has spent the last three months in a Chatham workforce development center.
He's scheduled for release after a hearing later today.
He still has to serve 20 years of probation and repay nearly 700-thousand dollars he embezzled from Henry County's Public Service Authority.
He's supposed to serve his probation back in Henry County.
(------------)

[11Tractor-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-41 TC-1:10:35]
[GRAPHIC=Holiday Travel]
[ENG#=3]

The trip home was longer than many holiday travelers expected.
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :28]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Around 3 o'clock yesterday, a seven car pile-up slowed traffic in the northbound lanes of Interstate 81 near mile marker 135. State police say that's when a tractor trailer carrying 78- thousand pounds of grapes approached the traffic driving too fast. To avoid hitting any vehicles the driver, 31- year- old Balbir Singh Mattu swerved onto the median and crashed into an embankment. Mattu was not injured in the crash, but was charged with reckless driving. Police say holiday traffic along the Interstate increases every year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:03:23]
[IN Q=Usually after 2:00 PM]
((GARY CHAFIN/STATE POLICE TROOPER: USUALLY AFTER 2:00 PM ON EVERY WEEKEND, BUT ESPECIALLY ON HOLIDAYS, THE LAST DAY, EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO GET HOME AND YOU HAVE THESE THINGS HAPPEN. SOME OF THESE WRECKS OCCUR FROM A WRECK ALREADY BEING OUT HERE AND THEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE RUBBERNECKING, TRYING TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, AND WE'VE HAD TWO OR THREE OUT HERE TONIGHT LIKE THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Trooper Gary Chafin/Virginia State Police;]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=tonight like that]
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :12+]
Around 5 o'clock, south- bound traffic on the Interstate was backed up for more than 15 miles in Roanoke County.
(------------)

[Holiday-Sales]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Holiday Shopping]
[ENG#=4]

The Thanksgiving weekend has given the nation's retailers a solid start on the holiday season.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Wal-Mart and other discounters had the strongest sales.
Overall, total sales for Friday and Saturday were up over 5 percent from the same time last year.
Experts think this could end up being the best holiday shopping season since 1999.
(------------)

[VOBClassic-Toys]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Morning]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=Holiday Shopping]
[ENG#=1]

Local retailers are discovering that what's new isn't always better.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Manufacturers are going back to the future this season in hopes of capitalizing on some classic toys a second time around.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:33:22]
[IN Q=We still have kind of]
((SCOTT LUDDY/TARGET MANAGER: WE STILL HAVE KIND OF A RETRO TREND GOING ON. YOU SEE EVERYTHING FROM THE MUPPETS TO SCOBBY DOO TO THE CARE BEARS BACK THIS SEASON AND SELLING VERY WELL.))
[SUPER=01-Scott Luddy/Target Manager;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=selling very well]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Luddy (Lud- E') says toy sales nearly triple between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. So far Target is above revenue estimates for the season.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=1]

In business news, Trading was light Friday.
Ed Crane has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Ed Crane/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=in New York.]

((GOOD MORNING.. INVESTORS WILL BE HEADING BACKTO WALL STREET RESTED AND READY MONDAY. MOST STEERED CLEAR OF TRADING FRIDAY, AS THE MARKETS SAW THEIR LIGHTEST TRADING VOLUME OF THE YEAR. THE DOW TACKED ON 2 POINTS, THE S AND P FELL BY A FRACTION AND THE NASDAQ ADDED ALMOST 7.

(MCD/HPQ/SGP)

MC DONALDS LED THE DOW HIGHER, GAINING ON AN UPGRADE FROM PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES. HEWLETT PACKARD S SIGNED A 7 YEAR 600 MILLION DOLLAR TECHNOLOGY DEAL WITH THE IRISH GOVERNMENT, THE LARGEST OUTSOURCING DEAL IN THAT NATIONS HISTORY. AND DRUG MAKER SCERING PLOUGH SHOULD BE A STOCK TO WATCH THIS WEEK, AFTER THE COMPANY C-E-O MADE A NEAR 5 MILLION DOLLAR PURCHASE OF STOCK IN HIS OWN COMPANY..
WE LL BE FOLLOWING THE WEEKEND SALES NUMBERS FROM MAJOR RETAILERS, TO SEE HOW THE FIRST BIG WAVE OF HOLIDAY SHOPPING WENT.

(WAL/TIF) (JCP/SHRP)

RETAIL ISSUES CLOSED MIXED LAST WEEK, WAL MART FELL, BUT HIGH END RETAILER TIFFANY GAINED. JC PENNY WAS OFF, BUT SHARPER IMAGE ONE DESTINATION FOR UNIQUE HOLIDAY GIFTS GAINED.

(KO/PEP)

COCA COLA S THROWING PEPSI OFF THE SUBWAY. THE SANDWICH CHAIN REPLACING PEPSI PRODUCTS WITH COCA COLA SOFT DRINKS IN IT S SHOPS. PEPSI HAD BEEN SUPPLIER OF CHOICE FOR 5 YEARS.
MORE COMPANIES ARE GAINING CONFIDENCE IN THE MARKETS, NOVEMBER WAS THE BUSIEST MONTH FOR I-P-O S IN TWO YEARS. THREE MORE COMPANIES DEBUT IN THE WEEK AHEAD

(AEL/AHZ/CVP)

AMERICAN EQUITY INSURANCE, ASPEN INSURANCE HOLDINGS AND VOLUME SERVICE AMERICA HOLDINGS.
WE LL BE WATCHING THE CURRENCY MARKETS AFTER THE DOLLAR SLID TO AN ALL TIME LOW AGAINST THE EURO, AND WE LL BE FOLLOWING SEVERAL MARKET MOVING ECONOMIC REPORTS THIS WEEK INCLUDING THE LATEST MEASURE OF MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY, AND FRIDAY S EAGERLY AWAITED REPORT ON EMPLOYMENT FOR NOVEMBER.
GET MORE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL NEWS ROUND THE CLOCK AT CBS DOT MARKETWATCH DOT COM
I M ED CRANE CBS MARKETWATCH NY.))

(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [COMM]

[Janklow]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin;]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=1]

A U-S Congressman goes on trial today for manslaughter.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Flandeau, SD;]

Bill Janklow, a former South Dakota governor, is accused of speeding through a stop sign and killing a motorcyclist.
If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.
(------------)

[11Halifax-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]
Halifax County authorities are investigating a robbery and murder at a convenience store Saturday night. Deputies say a man entered Robert's Quick Stop on Highway 40 around 10 o'clock, and shot and killed the manager, 72 year old Lowell Albert Waller of Nathalie. Waller was shot once in the abdomen with a large caliber handgun.
An undetermined amount of cash was taken in the robbery. Witnesses say the suspect was wearing a dark hooded jacket and blue jeans, and parked across the highway from the store. Authorities are asking anyone with information on the crime to call the Halifax County Sheriff's Office.

[11D-Day-Fees]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-38 TC-1:58:39]
[GRAPHIC=D-Day Memorial]
[ENG#=2]

The new year will bring changes to the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford. Visitors will no longer have to pay a parking fee.
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :23+]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/File Tape;]
Beginning January second, the foundation will charge five dollars for admission for adults and three dollars for children ages six to 16. There will be no charge for children under six. Until then, the Bedford Memorial's old fee policy of ten dollars per vehicle will remain in effect. Foundation officials say many visitors reported they are more accustomed to paying an admission rather than a parking fee.
(------------)

[Box-Office]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG# 3]
It's almost too close to call.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-''Dr. Seuss' the Cat in the Hat'' - Universal;]
As of now, ``Dr. Seuss' the Cat in the Hat'' is the number one movie at the box office. It took in 25-point-six million dollars this weekend, edging out `The Haunted Mansion'' by about 300-thousand dollars.
`In initial box office reporting yesterday, ``The Haunted Mansion'' had the top spot, but Universal revised its numbers upward to put ``The Cat in the Hat'' in the lead.
(------------)
[Anchor=Marya]
[TAKE FS CHYRON]
[SUPER=77-''Cat in the Hat''/25.6/''The Haunted Mansion''/25.3/''Elf''/22.2/''Gothika''/12.71/''Master and Commander''/
12.7;] The rankings could change when the final numbers are reported later today. In the meantime, the rest of the list is set. Elf came in third. Gothika was fourth. And Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World finished fifth.
[Super=#555;reset]

(Marya tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[Biz-Brief]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=2]

In business news, Stocks gained little ground on Friday. And Playstation Two is heading to China. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:10]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]

((IT WAS A SHORT DAY FOR TRADERS ON WALL STREET FRIDAY.
THE MARKETS CLOSED EARLY.

THE DOW ENDED THE DAY UP TWO-POINTS AND THE NASDAQ GAINED ALMOST SEVEN.

SCHERING-PLOUGH SAW A MORE THAN FIVE-PERCENT JUMP IN ITS STOCK ON FRIDAY.
THE INCREASE CAME AFTER SCHERING-PLOUGH'S CHAIRMAN AND C-E-O PURCHASED FOUR-POINT-68-MILLION-DOLLARS OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK.
C-E-O FRED HASSAN TOOK THE HELM OF THE NEW JERSEY-BASED PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY IN APRIL.

PLAYSTATION-TWO IS HEADING TO CHINA.
SONY'S POPULAR GAME CONSOLE IS EXPECTED TO HIT SHELVES IN THE COUNTRY BY MID-DECEMBER.
SONY HAS SOLD 62-MILLION PLAYSTATION-TWO CONSOLES SINCE ITS DEBUT IN 2000.
SONY'S GAMES DIVISION ACCOUNTED FOR NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF OPERATING PROFITS IN FISCAL 2002.

IS FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN ALAN GREENSPAN EARNING THE BIG BUCKS?
NOT ACCORDING TO A RECENT SURVEY BY REUTERS.
THE SURVEY FINDS THAT GREENSPAN IS THE LOWEST PAID CENTRAL BANKER IN THE G-7.
GREENSPAN EARNS ALMOST 172-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR.
THE HEAD OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK EARNS ONE OF THE TOP SALARIES.
INCLUDING BENEFITS, HIS EARNINGS COME IN AT 470-THOUSAND DOLLARS.

WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF, I'M STAN CASE.))

[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [COMM]

[AIDS-Day]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]

Today is World AIDS Day.
The disease is on the rise in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe ... and the latest numbers from the C-D-C show, it's happening in the U-S, too.
More than half of all new infections are in the African American community.
Christy Feig takes a look.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NATS: Deandre]
[SUPER=03-Washington, D.C.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Robin Adams/HIV Patient; :12]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Julie Geberding/CDC; :30]
[SUPER=01-Valencia Dillon-Donaldson/Whitman-Walker Clinic; :52]
[SUPER=02-Christy Feig/Reporting; 1:14]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=I'm Christy Feig.]
(( WHEN ROBIN ADAMS WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HIV 5 YEARS AGO, SHE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

sot: 15:55:00 the biggest scare is 'oh well god, i got hiv aids. now what?' what? you live. you learn how to live over
again.

ADAMS IS NOT ALONE. AFRICAN AMERICANS MAKE UP MORE THAN HALF OF ALL NEW HIV INFECTIONS... MORE THAN ANY OTHER GROUP IN THE U.S.

BLACK WOMEN IN PARTICULAR ARE AT RISK...

sot: 01:25:06 we are very concerned about HIV infection among African-American women. In some studies, up to 75 perce
nt of the new infections are occuring in these populations.

VALENCIA DILLON-DONALDSON SEES THE PROBLEM FIRST-HAND. SHE RUNS A PROGRAM FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN WITH HIV...

sot: 11:38:14 i am watching the virus do a rampant deteoriation in black women. (COVER)

butt to:

sot: 11:51:57 i don't see nobody jumping up. i see no one screaming, i see no one ACTING UP about what is happening in
our community. we're in trouble. we're in real trouble .

SHE SAYS MANY OF THE FACTORS CAUSING THESE NUMBERS TO RISE COULD BE COUNTERED IF WOMEN WOULD INSIST THEIR PARTNERS USE A CONDOM.

THE CDC BELIEVES TESTING FOR HIV WOULD REDUCE SOME OF THE NEW INFECTIONS....THEY ESTIMATE 200-THOUSAND AMERICANS ARE INFECTED WITH THE VIRUS AND DON'T KNOW IT.... AND STUDIES SHOW ONCE PEOPLE DO KNOW THEY'RE INFECTED THEY TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT THEIR PARTNERS.
IN WASHINGTON I'M CHRISTY FEIG ))

[3-Clower]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Clower]
[ENG#=2]

Former Henry County administrator Sid Clower may be released from the prison system today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co./2002;]

Clower has spent the last three months in a Chatham workforce development center.
He's scheduled for release after a hearing later today.
He still has to serve 20 years of probation and repay nearly 700-thousand dollars he embezzled from Henry County's Public Service Authority. (------------) He's supposed to serve his probation back in Henry County.